Electric synchronizing apparatus for time-pieces



(No Model.)

J. HAMBLET.

ELECTRIC SYNOHRONIZING APPARATUS FOR TIME PIECES.

No. 270,058. Patented Jan.2, 1883.

ll W unlumllllgll u/ By his flttorneys EU/[es Elma 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES HAMBLET, OF BROOKLYN, NEYV YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed October 7, 1882.

'10 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES HAMBLET, a citizen ot' the United States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Synchronizing Apparatus for Time-Pieces, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a class of apparatus employed for synchronizing or adjusting to the correct time, at determinate intervals, each one of a series of time-pieces provided with simi' lar apparatus, all of which apparatus is united by'electric conductors with a central or controlling station, where, at the completion of a predetermined period of time, (usually at the expiration of every hour,) the electric circuit is momentarily closed, either manually by a key or other circuit-closer operated by an attendant or automatically by means of a primary standard clock or regulator, some portion of which is arranged to temporarily close the circuit at the proper time. The momentary closing of the circuit causes the synchronizing apparatus of each secondary clock or timepiece to automatically adjust its minute-hand to the zero-point upon the clock-dial, denoting the completion of the hour, in casethe same has deviated from its proper position.

.The particular subject-matter claimed as new is specifically pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a front elevation,

and Fig. 2 a side elevation, of the apparatus at each sub-station. Fig. 3 is a detached view, showing certain details of construction.

' In the figures, A represents a wooden or metallic box or case situated above the clockdial, within which the synchronizing apparatus is inclosed.

A is an electromagnet included, together with the corresponding clocks, in the series in an electric circuit formed by the wires 0 e.

B is a lever fnlcrumed at I), which carries the armature a of the electro-magnet A, and is normally held against the adjustable stop B, with the armature a away from the poles of the magnet A, by the tension of the spiral spring 0. The lower extremity of the lever B Patent No. 270,058, dated January 2, 1883.

(No model.)

I is formed into a toothed segment, (3. which engages with one of two pinions, W and W, mounted upon arbors w 20. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the axial length of the pinion W is a little more than twice as great as that of the pinion W, and that it consequently extends backward a greater distance than the pinion \V. The segment 0 is thus enabled to engage with the rear portion of the pinion WV. Two radial arms, D D,'carrying upon their respective extremities horizontallyprojecting pins (Z d, are rigidly attached to the respective outwardly-ptojecting ends of the arbors to and 20, upon which the pinions are rigidly mounted. The relation of the diameter ot' the pinions \V and \V to the length of the lever B should be such. as, to enable the former to complete about one-ninth ot' a revolution when acted upon by the segment 0, as hereinafter described,so that when the arm 1) is in its normal position, as shown in the drawings, the minute-hand H ol" the clock may freely pass beneath it.

The operationof the apparatus is as follows: The proper time having arrived for the simultaneous adjustment of the series of clocks,the electric circuit connected with the synchronizing apparatus of the secondary clocks is closed either by an attendant at the central station or automatically by means of a standard clock, some part of the mechanism of which is arranged to close the circuit at the proper time, in a manner well understood. The current thus transmitted traverses the coils of the electro-magnet A, causing it to attract the armature a, carrying with it the lever B to the position shown in dotted lines. This movement of'the lever 13 causes, through the instrumentality ot' the segment 0, the pinions \V and i to rotate upon their axes through a distance equal to about one-ninth of a complete revolution. The arms D and D, attached to said pinions, are thus carried downward and toward each other into the position shown in dotted lines. It the minute-hand H ltas not deviated more than one minute from the correct time in the course of its last revolution, and hence has not reached, or else has passed, the zero-point upon the clock-dial, one of thcpins pinion W without coming in contact with'the' d or d, accordingly as the position of the hand is fast or slow, will move the hand to the zeropoint. The circuit at the central station, having been momentarily closed, is again interrupted, the cores of the electro-magnet A are demagnetized, the mechanism returns to its normal position by the tension of the retractile spring 0, and the minutehand H is allowed to continue its movement by the ordinary action of the clock mechanism, having been adjusted to the correct time.

.If it is desired to conceal the movement of the arms D and D, a duplicate minute-hand maybe made to revolve behind the dial, and coincident with the hand upon the face, and this may be acted upon by the synchronizing mechanism, in the same manner as the hand H upon the face of the dial.

It is obvious that frictional pinions and a segment having a frictional periphery may be employed in place of the toothed pinions and segment shown in the drawings; and also that the pinions may be so constructed and mounted as to be actuated by a suitable system of bands operated by the armature-lever, Without essentially departing from the principle of my invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a clock-synchronizing apparatus, the

combination, substantially as hereinbeiore set so forth, of the pinions, the projecting arms, and the lever for causing the rotation of said pinions.

2. In a clock-synchronizing apparatus, the combination, substantially as hereinbet'ore set forth,of the pinions, the arms rigidly attached to said pinions respectively, and the pins respectively attached to and horizontally projecting from said arms. v

3. In a elock-synchronizing apparatus, the combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, ot' the electro-magnet and its armature, the lever actuated by said armature, and provided with a segment, the pinions receiving motion from said segment, the arms rigidly attached to said pinions respectively, and the pins respectively attached to and horizontally projecting from said arms for embracing the minute-hand of a clock or time-piece and adjusting it to its proper position. 50

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 4th day of October, A. D. 1882.

J AM ES II A M B lil l'i.

Witnesses:

DANIEL W. EDGECOMB, CHARLES A. TERRY. 

